Category: Patient Education

Alternatives to Knee Replacement Surgery for Professional Football Players

A knee injury or arthritic joint pain can sideline you from your on the field job and activities that you enjoy off the turf. It is well known that sports, like football, predispose an individual to arthritis. 

Now, less invasive surgical and non-surgical options to a total knee are available. The UNI preserves the “good” cartilage only addressing “bad” areas. Topical anti-inflammatory medicines and injections also decrease pain associated with arthritis.

For the rookie with mild pain from arthritis viscosupplementation “lubricating” injections may be a starting point. As we age, fluid within the knee breaks down, thus predisposing the joint to early damage causing pain. The injections replenish the natural shock absorbing fluid. The injections can provide from 6 months to a years’ worth of relief, and can be repeated. Topical anti-inflammatory creams are available and have also shown to decrease pain associated with arthritis.

For the veteran athlete microfracture surgery may be more appropriate. Microfracture is a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure that addresses each cartilage defect individually, and arises from a bone marrow stimulating phenomenon, where small holes are created in the defect stimulating blood and bone marrow to fill the defect. This provides a quicker recovery time when compared to a total knee, however is intended for individuals under age 45 who want to return quickly. For veterans over 45, a UNI may be the answer to resolve chronic pain, which may avoid a total knee replacement and return the athlete back to the field of play.

What’s New, What’s Hot! – Hand Rejuvenation Treatment

As we age, our hands lose firmness and plumpness exposing the tendons and veins. Combating the aging hand syndrome takes more than a hand cream. The latest technology has given us a set of procedures that will have similar effects as those we have been able to accomplish for the face.

Complete Hand Rejuvenation is a combination process which includes at its core injectable, Radiesse as well as creams and Lazer to remove those brown spots in the hand.

Radiesse

Radiesse injections immediately replenish volume to the back of the hands to provide a supple and youthful appearance instantly. Placed beneath the skin, Radiesse raises the skin level so that tendons, joints and veins get cover proving instantaneously a younger, healthier look to your hands.

Because Radiesse provides a base for collagen-building, the body’s own collagen interweaving into this structure keeps the skin feeling softly natural and smooth.

How is Radiesse injected?

A simple out-patient procedure; it is performed under local anesthesia in the physician’s office and takes about 15 minutes.
Injection pain is minimized or eliminated by mixing Radiesse with local anesthesia. Following the procedure, patients may immediately return back to daily activities, however, treatment sights may be swollen for 1-2 days. There is also potential for bruising at the injection sight, which may be covered with other products.

How long will the results last?
Depending on the areas treated, most of the correction may last for many months, or even years. Re-touching session may be necessary to obtain optimal results.